Gerund vs Infinitive: The Choice That Changes Meaning

Learn when to use gerunds vs infinitives in English — which verbs take which form, when both are possible, and how the meaning changes — with examples and practice.

May 17, 2026 Updated on May 17, 2026 Confusing Words , Exam Grammar 6 min read

Some verbs let you choose between a gerund (-ing) and an infinitive (to + verb). The choice is not free — it changes the meaning.

I stopped smoking. (I quit the habit.)
I stopped to smoke. (I paused in order to smoke.)

The verb stop takes both forms, but the meaning is completely different. This article teaches you which verbs take which form, and what happens when both are possible.

For related reading, see Error Spotting Tricks for Tenses and Fill in the Blanks Using Grammar Clues.

A gerund (-ing form used as a noun) and an infinitive (to + base verb) can both follow verbs, but the pattern depends on the specific verb.

Some verbs take only gerunds: enjoy, avoid, mind, finish, practise, consider.
Some verbs take only infinitives: decide, plan, hope, want, refuse, manage, promise.
Some verbs take both with a change in meaning: stop, remember, forget, try, regret, go on.

Rule box: Memorize patterns after key verbs. When both are possible, use meaning to choose.

I enjoy reading. (not “enjoy to read”)
She avoided meeting him.
Have you finished writing?

Verb	Example
enjoy	I enjoy swimming.
avoid	He avoided answering.
mind	Do you mind waiting?
finish	She finished cooking.
practise	We practised speaking.
consider	They considered moving.
suggest	I suggest leaving early.
deny	He denied cheating.

She decided to leave. (not “decided leaving”)
He planned to visit Delhi.
They hope to win.

Verb	Example
decide	She decided to stay.
plan	We plan to travel.
hope	I hope to pass.
want	He wants to learn.
refuse	She refused to go.
manage	They managed to escape.
promise	He promised to help.
afford	We cannot afford to wait.

These are the most important to learn because the gerund/infinitive choice changes what the sentence means.

Stop:

I stopped smoking. (I quit.)
I stopped to smoke. (I paused for the purpose of smoking.)

Remember:

I remember locking the door. (I have a memory of doing it.)
I remember to lock the door. (I don’t forget to do it.)

Forget:

I’ll never forget meeting her. (I met her; the memory stays.)
I forgot to meet her. (I didn’t go; I failed to remember.)

Try:

I tried opening the window. (I experimented with this action.)
I tried to open the window. (I attempted it; success is uncertain.)

Regret:

I regret telling him. (I told him; now I am sorry.)
I regret to tell you. (I am sorry to inform you now.)

Go on:

She went on talking for an hour. (She continued the same action.)
She went on to become a doctor. (After something else, she achieved this.)

Identify the main verb. Is it a gerund verb, an infinitive verb, or a dual-meaning verb?
If gerund-only: use -ing.
If infinitive-only: use to + base verb.
If dual-meaning: check the intended meaning.
- Memory of past action → gerund
- Duty or future action → infinitive
- Purpose → infinitive
- Cessation → gerund
Read the completed sentence. Does the meaning match?

I enjoy to read.

Enjoy takes gerund only.

I enjoy reading.

She decided going.

Decide takes infinitive only.

She decided to go.

I stopped to smoke.

This means “I paused in order to smoke.” If you mean “I quit smoking”:

I stopped smoking.

I enjoy reading novels. (gerund only)
She decided to leave. (infinitive only)
I stopped smoking. (quit the habit)
I stopped to smoke. (paused for smoking)
I remember locking the door. (past memory)
Remember to lock the door. (don’t forget)
I forgot to call her. (I didn’t call.)
I’ll never forget visiting Paris. (memory of the trip)
She tried to open the jar. (attempted)
She tried adding salt. (experimented)

Wrong: I enjoy to read.
Right: I enjoy reading.

Enjoy always takes a gerund.

Wrong: She decided going.
Right: She decided to go.

Decide always takes an infinitive.

I stopped smoking. (I quit.)
I stopped to smoke. (I paused to smoke.)

The meaning is opposite. Learn the difference.

I remember meeting her. (I have the memory.)
I remembered to meet her. (I didn’t forget the appointment.)

Gerund = past memory. Infinitive = duty not forgotten.

These verbs can take both gerund and infinitive with little difference in meaning.

I like swimming. = I like to swim.

However, for specific occasions, the infinitive is more common:

I’d like to go now. (not “I’d like going now”)

Wrong	Right	Why
I enjoy to read.	I enjoy reading.	Enjoy + gerund.
She decided going.	She decided to go.	Decide + infinitive.
I stopped to smoke. (meaning quit)	I stopped smoking.	Stop + gerund = quit.
I forgot meeting her. (meaning didn’t go)	I forgot to meet her.	Forget + infinitive = failed to remember.

Choose the correct option.

I enjoy ___ in the morning.
a) to run b) running
She decided ___ the course.
a) joining b) to join
I stopped ___ last year. (quit)
a) to smoke b) smoking
Remember ___ the door. (don’t forget)
a) locking b) to lock
Error spotting: I enjoy to watch movies.
Error spotting: He decided going home early.
Error spotting: I stopped to rest. (meaning: I paused for rest — is this correct?)
Fill in the blank: I forgot ___ her. (call / to call) — meaning: I didn’t call.
Rewrite correctly: She enjoys to cook.
Choose: I remember ___ the window. (closing / to close) — meaning: I have the memory.

running — enjoy + gerund.
to join — decide + infinitive.
smoking — stop + gerund = quit.
to lock — remember + infinitive = don’t forget.
I enjoy watching movies.
He decided to go home early.
Correct — stop + infinitive = pause for purpose.
to call — forget + infinitive = failed to remember.
She enjoys cooking.
closing — remember + gerund = past memory.

Rule: Some verbs take gerunds, some infinitives, and some change meaning with the form. Memorize the key patterns.

Memory trick: Gerund = what happened. Infinitive = what you need to do.

Revise these:

I enjoy reading.
She decided to leave.
I stopped smoking. (quit)
Remember to lock the door. (don’t forget)

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